In an effort to curb skyrocketing phone usage in the classroom, hallways, and cafeteria, assistant principal Jaclyn Friel implemented Yondr.

It's simple, really. Yondr is a company that provides small, neoprene pouches that lock with a pin--similar to clothing security tag pins--and can only be opened with a Yondr magnetic device, about the size of a conference call phone.

"When I came back from maternity leave in January, teachers and staff told me, 'the cell phone situation has gotten so out of control, please do something about it,'" says Friel.

What Friel likes about the, maybe ironically, low-tech Yondr is that students are still in possession of their phones.

"They can't use it because it's locked in the pouch," she says. "But that doesn't mean they don't try."

Creative attempts to maintain access to their phones include trying to bend the pin before it locks, preventing the pin from locking by covering it with a pink eraser -- "That was clever," says Friel -- and even putting deodorant in the pouch to hoodwink staffers.

None of them worked.

But after the initial shock of losing their digital limb, students seem to be coming around to the phone-free atmosphere.

"It's second nature now," says Joseph, a senior on the cheerleading squad. "It's easier to focus, especially at the end of the day. And we don't use our phones during practice anyway, so what's another two hours?"

Kid Tested, Adult Approved

In May of this year, Friel tested a month-long pilot program, requiring students to lock their phones during English class. She then solicited feedback from teachers, staff, students and parents.

There were two concerns that came to the forefront. Students who had changes to their after-school plans -- canceled practices or meetings -- couldn't get in touch with their parents before the end of the day.

"I've had trouble finding a ride home after school," says Murphy. "Last spring, we had softball right after school, and sometimes it would be canceled, but the coaches text the kids, not the parents."

"We've lost the convenience factor," says DeFranco. "I would text my mom that I forgot something for practice and ask her to bring it at the end of school."

Friel is working with coaches and club leaders to open the lines of communication so parents and caregivers have more notice when after-school plans change. And, she says, the office gets a lot more calls from parents asking about schedule changes.

For parents, a large concern has been the element of safety.

"God forbid there's an emergency situation," says Friel. "We want them to get to safety, but they'll stop to text their mom or send a picture or post to Instagram. They can do all of those things when we get to safety."

Every classroom has an unlocking device, which teachers have been instructed to take with them during an evacuation.

Being Social Without Social Media

In today's world of limitless connection, it seems people are losing the art of actually connecting IRL.

"We're seeing a lot more interaction in the building," says Friel. "Students are interacting with each other, with their teachers. In the past, students are sitting in the cafeteria next to each other, not speaking. Now, they're talking."

In fact, it was this observation, which Yondr founder, Graham Dugoni made at a music festival that prompted him to build his product. He told The Washington Post that the smartphone had killed group intimacy.

With Yondr, "You'll see people fully engaged with each other talking, and the feel of it is radically different," Dugoni told the Post.

Just six weeks in to the school year, that effect has made its way to Notre Dame's cafeteria.

"Last year all of my friends were at my lunch table, and I didn't look at my phone," says Joseph. "But now, I don't know as many people. You're used to looking at your phone when things get awkward. That's what happens when the conversation dies out -- you look at your phone for 20 minutes ... Now, I'm sitting with friends I had earlier in high school. Our friendship had faded out; we were in different activities and we grew apart. But it's good to know I can rekindle with these people. I wouldn't have talked to them if I had my phone."

For Murphy, a junior, not having her phone at lunch, has made it easier for her to talk to the seniors at her table.

"If I had my phone at lunch ... I wouldn't have started talking to them in the first place," she says.

It also helps that all Notre Dame students are in the same boat; they're not missing out on what most of their friends are posting or Snapchatting because their phones are also locked.

"I have friends in the public schools in Easton, and they said they can't believe how I go through that transfer," says Joseph. "But it's not as bad as it seems. It becomes second nature, and I didn't think it would."

Testing the Results

Right now, the school doesn't have specific numbers to assess the effects of Yondr. The company does share data from other schools -- Yondr is in 600 schools nationwide -- which has found that at first, grades tend to dip.

"There's no more access to cheating," says Friel.

But then performance increases, thanks to more interaction with teachers and paying more attention in class.

"Last year, I took someone's phone away during class and left it on my desk," says Friel. "I was working, but in 20 minutes, he got 39 text messages from other students in the building. I had to stop working. It was a perfect example that something had to be done."

But it's not just about doing away with the distraction of Snaps and texts.

"A lot of kids said to me that in the past, they didn't really pay attention when the teacher was going over something because they'd just take a quick picture at the end of class. Now, they're saying, 'I know I can't do that, and it's forcing me to pay attention,'" says Friel.

DeFranco has noticed that the work he has to do at home has decreased. But it's not that he has less homework. Because the senior doesn't have to go over what he missed during class, he can get his homework done more quickly.

Some students like Joseph and Murphy, however, miss having access to the app, Quizlet, which offers both pre-programmed and customized flashcards for studying.

"If I didn't have enough time to make flashcards, I'd go on Quizlet," says Joseph.

Every week, Friel reviews her list of students who are failing certain subjects. This year, says Friel, the list is not long.

"I've always been a pretty good student, but my grades are even better," says Joseph. "Yondr is a big part of that."

The Next Generation

Notre Dame, which spent $8,000 on Yondr pouches and unlocking devices, will continue to evaluate its Yondr program to make sure it serves the ultimate goal of improving the educational experience, says Friel.

She recognizes that if the school markets its Yondr participation, it might deter students from wanting to attend Notre Dame, a private institution.

"We want to inform people about Yondr in a positive way," she says.

When asked what they'd say to their elementary student shadows, the teenagers throw down words of wisdom:

"If you're motivated enough in school, that would make you want to come here more," says Joseph. "I would give myself as an example. I was a pretty good student, and now I'm an even better student."

"You're at school for school, and you don't really need your phone all day," says Murphy.

"It's hard at first," says DeFranco. "You're going to lose your phone for the whole day, but it's not as bad as some people say. It helps you at the end of the day do better."

Adults could even follow the high schoolers' leads.

"I told the kids at the beginning that I know they're not crazy about this," says Friel. "It's not just you guys. We're all addicted to our phones."